She says:
Despite countless books, magazines, DVD’s and the like on the subject of motherhood, there actually isn’t a manual for the most difficult job in the world. It’s more of a learn-on-the-job, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-momjeans kind of thing. As this Mother’s Day approached, I got to thinking about all of the skills motherhood has taught me over the years – valuable and necessary things that have served me well. I’m betting many of you moms out there share in these skills worthy of some special kind of resume:
Speed-demon
- I have learned to pee in less than 30 seconds including hand-washing and drying. Why did I have to learn this skill? Because there were always children outside the bathroom door calling to me, sticking their fingers under the bathroom door like invading little worms. “Just a minute!” I would yell. “Mommy is going to the bathroom and needs some alone time!” To this day, even though my kids let me go to the bathroom in peace, I’m still very quick. When my husband asks, “how do you do that so quickly?!” I simply reply “years of practice”.
- I have learned to shower in less than 10 minutes including shaving my legs and conditioning my hair. Why? See #1
- I pop out of bed in the morning regardless of how exhausted and sleep deprived I am. This is due to years of having to get out of bed right on time to get the kids up, fed and to school on time. They certainly weren’t/aren’t in any hurry to get up so someone has to take the alarm clock by the horns and make it happen.
Multi-tasker extraordinaire
- I can cook dinner, load the dishwasher, answer a homework question, apply a band-aid and answer the phone simultaneously. Do I want to do all of these things at the same time? No! When I am doing only one task, it feels weird and wrong. How sick is that?
Fierce protector
- When I became a mother, I went into fierce protector mode. Injustices against others infuriated me. Talk of war terrified me. Seeing others in need moved me. Why? Because now I had brought another being into this world and I wanted it to be the best possible place for them. That includes feeling kindness and warmth for my fellow person, wanting to help and making a difference where I can.
Considerer of others – and others and others
- Not only are my own children in my thoughts almost constantly, as a mother, I expand my continuous considerations to everyone in our lives: my spouse, my parents, my in-laws, the kids’ teachers, the kids’ friends, our neighbors, our doctors and dentist and so on and so on. Your life expands exponentially when you have kids, as does your heart, which brings me to my most important skill…
Capable of handling more than I ever thought I could
- I learned that I am capable of loving more than one person with my entire heart. In the days leading up to the birth of my second child, I started to panic and feel very sad. How was I going to love another child adequately when I loved my first child so much? I’d grown so attached to her in her mere two years on this earth. How was I going to have room in my heart for someone else. Yet I did, of course, instantly (and truthfully from the moment I knew I was pregnant with him). My heart went “of course!” and welcomed this second child into my heart and then again and again with child number three and then four.
- I have also learned that squeamish me can handle lots of blood, vomit, diarrhea and horrendously stinky diapers because they are on/from my children and there’s no question about it – it needs to be dealt with and fast. I doubt I would feel the same way about someone else.
I’d like to create a Mom Resume and get paid for all of these amazing skills but what good would it do? There’s no paying job out there that could pay us enough because motherhood is priceless.
– Courtney, IT CO Mom
* This post originally ran on http://colorado.parenthood.
5 comments
Can you imagine what your salary would be? Sheesh, it’s hard to even comprehend. You learn a lot being a Mom. I’ve learned a lot in the ten years I’ve been a step-mom.
Great post! I don’t have kids yet and although I multitask so well on some things, I’m also lazer focused to the point of tunnel vision on other things. I can multitask on my work projects, but if I try to have a conversation with someone while I butter a bagel, it takes me 15 minutes! I try so hard but it’s a real challenge – so having kids will either improve my skills tenfold, or I’ll be a wreck! LOL!
So true. Moms have to wear so many hats in the family. I’m a mom of 5 and I sure wish I got paid for all that I do, but then again, it is such a blessing to be mom.
The fast pee skill served me well as an elementary school teacher too!
It is amazing, everything that we are capable of. As for the peeing in 30 seconds including hand washing, I’ve got that done too. I can also be in and out of the shower in 2 mins. 🙂 I really understand your heart swelling to love more than one child, it’s amazing actually. Mother definitely IS priceless, wonderful article.